Improvement in log-turners for saw-mills



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Log-Turners for Saw-Mills.

No.147,523. PatemedFeb.17,1874.

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UNITED STATES PATENT QEEICE EDNVARD H. STEARNS, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT l'N LOG-TURNERS FOR lSiMISl-MILLS.

Specification forming p'art of Letters Patent No. 147,523, dated February 17, 1874; application filed Marc-h 21, 1ers.

in a vertical plane just at one side of the verticallymoving bar which turns the log. Fig. 2 is a detached outline elevation of the chains a-nd their connections, and illustrative of their operation in connection with the bar. Fig. 3 is a rear-edge elevation of the bar, with its pullcys, but with only the outside chainconnec tions. Fig. 4L is a detached view of a portion of the toothed chain. 5 is a like view of one of the hinged teeth.

Like letters ot reterence indicate like parts in each.

My invention relates to improvements in the construction of log-turners for saw-mill use.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and mode ot' operation.

The saw-carriage is represented at A, the knees at A, and the log to be turned at B. The frame D is of any suitable construction. The vertically-moving bar G is made ot' two side or check plates, d d, Fig. 3, held at t-he desired distance apart by distance-pieces or washers, or in other known way. It-has a pnl ley, a, at its upper end; a like pulley, al, at its lower end; and a pulley, a?, at any desired point between its ends, but preferably near its lower end, such pulley a2 being, by its shaft or pin, connected with a swinging arm, b, pivotcdA or hinged at b1. A pulley, j', is arranged on lthe upper part of the frame D. A windlassshaft, f1, and wheel f2 receive motion from a band-wheel, y, and'friction-wheel g1, the latter bearing, when desired, on the wheel f2. The shaft of the'wheels g g1 is mounted in a roeking-frame, so as to be shifted in and out of gear with the wheel f2 at pleasure, which is done by means of a lever, g2, or in any other manner known in the art for accomplishing the same result. An ordinary chain-connection, s, extends from the windlass f1 over the pulley f, under the pulley a2, and over the pulley a from the outside 5 but before coming to the side of the pulley next the log B, it connects with a chain, S, made of suitably-formed links, as shown in Fig. 4, which chain extends as far as may be desired in connection with its action on the log B. It then passes under the pulley al, and connects with another ordina-ry chain, s1, which branches-one branch extending up, and being secured to the beams D2 of the frame-work; one on cach side of the turning-bar G, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The toothed chain S, while in operation, rests against a diaphragm, i, which extends up and down between the plates d d, which make up the barG, at such distance from their edge as to constitute therewith mechanically a groove, in which the chain slides up and down, but with its 'teeth projecting so as to engage the log. To the chain S, substantially in the manner indicated in Fig. 4, I attach a series of hook-shaped teeth, c el e?. These teeth are pivoted or hinged loosely to the chain-links, either between two link-bars, as shown, or the base endmay be bifurcated and pivoted to the single bars. In either case the tooth is so attached that, when thrown out and moving upward, it will, by coming against the end of the next link, or by means of other suitable stop device, be held in the position shown at c. Its point will then. engage the log, asillustrated in Fig. 1. At the same time the teeth are so attached to the chain that, with a downward motion of the bar G, they may fold in, as at c1, Fig. 5, and thereby be free to slide down on the side of the log without engaging it so as to revolve it back 5 and as the chain-links pass over the upA per pulley the teeth fold forward, as described,

and as shown at c2, so that their point-s will not be liable to interfere with the operation of the machine by hooking onto any of the other parts ofthe apparatus.

t will now be seenl that, by winding up the chain s on the windlass-shait or drum f', the toothed chain S will be caused to move up ward, and, by its teeth c, engage the log B and turn it over. Also, as the chain-connection is fixed at its opposite end to a stationary part, D2, of the frame-work, and passes under the pulleys al a2, the entire' frame 'or bar Gr will be caused to more upward against the side of fhg log, carrying the toothed chain S with it, and so turning the log. After the log is turned the chain is slackened, and the bar G comes down to its former position, which is represented by dotted lines in Fig. l.

In order that the upper end of the bar G shall always, when being elevated in the manner described, swing forward, so as to bring the teeth e against the side of the log, I arrange the pulleys in such way that, in winding up the chain, the lower end of the frame or bar G will be drawn back of a vertical line passing through its center of gravity. The upper end will then necessarily fall over against the log, and the direction in which the forces act is such that the bar G will be held over in that position.

The function of the bar G-hugging the log while moving upwardly-is thus automatically secured; but, if so preferred, suitable guides, or other known equivalent means, may be employed for the same purpose. rlhe lower end of the bar G is prevented from swinging back away from the log by means of the arm b.

In order, now, that, after the log is turned and the bar D has come down to its former position, the upper end of the bar may swing back clear ofthe saw-carriage, I hang the bar by chains s2, which, at one end, are fastened to some Xed part, D3, of the framework, and at the other end to the bar G by projecting arms df, at points which shall be forward of a vertical line passing through the center of gravity of the bar G.

In connection with the chain as a carrier for the teeth, a rigid tooth may be employed, or one that is rigid in reference to the link with which it is connected, though the construction above described is preferable.

Mechanically, the bar G and the toothed chain S s together constitute the lifting or turning bar 5 and any suitable device which will hold the toothed chain up to the log at the point of bite may be substituted for the bar G.

I do not claim, broadly, the application, as a log-turner, of the ordinary hoisting endless chain, with hooks attached, and passing over pulley-wheels, which latter are mounted in fixed stationary bearings, though I am not aware that such device has ever been so used, or that its use has ever before been suggested.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a log-turner, a toothed chain, S, which is movable, at the pleasure of the workman, up and down as well as to and from the log, in combination with a back rest for holding the teeth up to the log at the point of bite, constructed substantially in the manner set forth.

2. The combination of toothed chain S, vertically-movin g bar G, such chain having a connection at one end to a coiling-shaft `and at the other end to the' frame, and a system of pulleys whereby both chain and bar shall move vertically at the same time, substantially as set fortl 3. rIhe chains s2, in combination with the projecting arm df of the bar G, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a toothed chain, S, vertically-moving bar G, and arm b, arranged substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I, the said EDWARD H. STEARNS, have hereunto set my hand.

EDWARD H. STEARS. 

